Share this:

The 49ers might know Saints quarterback Drew Brees and running back Darren Sproles better than people think. Brees maintains his off-season home in San Diego with a group of other NFL players including Sproles, 49ers safety C.J. Spillman and 49ers tight end Justin Peelle.

“Brees was on Sproles from the beginning,” Spillman said. “He really wanted him to come to New Orleans with him.”

Sproles was a free agent from the Chargers during the off-season lockout and after Brees worked on him during their workouts Sproles took to signing in New Orleans seriously.

Sproles, along with 49ers kicker David Akers, were among the best free agent signings this year. The 5-6, 190-pound Sproles led the Saints in rushing with 603 yards on 87 carries, a 6.9 yard average. He was also the second-leading receiver with 86 catches for 710 yards and seven touchdowns.

Obviously, the offseason workouts in San Diego paid off for Brees and Sproles in the regular season.

“They were good workouts,” Peelle said. “We would workout at a facility and then go to a high school and throw a lot of passes.”

But that familiarity isn’t likely to benefit the 49ers. Former Saints center turned 49er Jonathan Goodwin even admitted that knowing the Saints defense and the myriad of blitzes they bring is just a slight advantage.

“I know some things,” Goodwin said. “But it doesn’t guarantee me anything. I don’t know what they are calling.”